Canada Foundation for Innovation – 2017 Innovation Fund

On January 15, the Canada Foundation for Innovation released a Draft Call for Proposals for the 2017 Innovation Fund. For this round of the Innovation Fund, the CFI will invest up to $425 million in infrastructure costs for “transformative infrastructure projects that will underpin cutting-edge, globally competitive research.”

The CFI limits the total amount which an institution can request from the Innovation Fund; Western’s envelope for the 2017 Innovation Fund is anticipated to be $41,300,000. An internal excellence-based, peer review process will be implemented to identify the projects which will be submitted to the CFI by Western, and to determine the maximum budget permitted for each proposal within our envelope. The internal process, detailed in the attached timelines, will include the submission of an internal Notice of Intent which will form the basis of institutional decision-making. Proposals should be aligned with Western’s strengths and strategic priorities, build on past investments in people, research, and infrastructure, and demonstrate world-leading research which will increase Western’s competitiveness in the global research landscape.

Faculty who are considering applying to the 2017 Innovation Fund are strongly encouraged to contact their Associate Dean Research or Research Director as soon as possible. Research Development is also able to assist with any questions, or in the development of internal proposals.